Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-09
SNot1, listen" said Lee.

@~~
GNop. Rsten!" said Lee.
"No," stammered the wretch.
"Did you ever learn to rob a woman,
child, or any but a man, and that face t
face?"
mo" repeated Manuel.
ibid you ever learn from me to lay
finger upon a woman, old or young, in an
ger or kindness?"
"No."
"Then, my poor Manuel, it's as l feared
civilization has ruined you. Farming an
a simple, bucolic life mas perverted you
morals. So you were running off with th
stock and that mustang, when you GO
stuck in the snow; and the luminous ide
of this little game struck you? Ell? Tha
was another mistake, Manuel; | never al
lowed you to think when you were wit,
me-"
"No, captain"
who's your friend?"
"a id cowardly niger from the Sum
nit"
81 agree with you for once; but he hasn'
had a very brilliant example. Where's h
gone now?"
"To h-ll, for all l care"
"Then | want you to 60 with him. Lis
ten. If there's a way out of the place 20,
know it or can find it. Igive you two day
to do it-you and he. At the end of tina
time the order will be to shoot you OF
sight. Now take off your boots"
Tho mapIo larE fana y;o;bl,, r,b;tno,I
his teeth chartered in superstitious terror
Pm not going to shoot you now," saiC
Lee, smiling, 80 you will have a chanc,
to die with your boots on, if you are su
perstitious. / only want you to exohang,
them for that pair of Hale's in the corner
The fact is / have taken a fancy to yours
That fashion of wearing the stockings out
side strikes me as one of the neatest thing
out"
Manuel sullenly drew off his boots with
their muffied covering, and put on the ones
designated.
"Now open the door,"
He did so. Falkner was already waiting
at the threshold. Turn Manuel loose
with the other, Ned, but disarm him first.
They might quarrel. The habit of carry.
ing arms, Manuel, added Lee, as FalkneI
took q pistol and bowie knife from the half
breed, lis of itself provocative of violence
and inconsistent with a bucolic and pas.
toral life"
When Falkner returned he said hurried.
ly to his companion, 'Do you think il
wise, George, to let those hellhounds loosef
Good Godl l could scarcely let my grir
of his throat go when | thought of what
they were hunting"
my dear Ned" said Lee, luxuriously
e%nsconcing himself under the bedclothes
again with a slight SILVER of delicious
warmth, 81 must warn you against allow.
ing the natural pride of n higher walk to
prejudice you against the general level OF
our profession. Indeed, / was quite struck
with the justice of Manuel's protest that
I was interfering with certain rude pro.
cesses of his WI toward results aimed at
by Others"
"George!" interrupted Falkner almost
s~avagely.
"Well. admit it's getting rather late
in the evening for pure philosophical in
quiry, and you are tired. Practically, then,
it tcds wise to lei them get away before
they discovered two things. One, our ex-
act relations here with these women: and
the other, hOw many of us were here. At
present they think we are three or four
in possession and with the consent of the
women"
1.-THE dogs"
"They are paying us the highest compli-
ment they can conceive of by supposing us
cleverer scoundrels than themselves. You
are very unjust, Ned"
eff they escape and tell their story?''
1--WE shall have the rare pleasure of
knowing we are better than people believe
us. And now put those boots away m
where where we can produce them if neces-
sary, as evidence of Manuel's evening call.
At present we'll keep the thing quiet, and
in the early morning you can find out where
they got in and emo any traces they
have lett. 1t is no use to frighten the wo-
men. There's no fear of their, returning"
"And if they get away?"
1--WE can follow their tracks"
''If Manuel gives the alarm"
with his burglarious boots left behind
in the house? Not much! Good night,
Ned. Go to bed"
With these words Lee turned on his side
and quietly resumed his interrupted slum-
Der. Falkner did not, however, follow this
sensible advice. When,he was satisfied that
his friend was sleeping he opened the door
softly and looked out. He did not appear
to be listening, for his eyes were fixed upon
a small pencil of light that stole across the
passage from the foot of Kate's door. He
watched it until it suddenly disappeared,
when, leaving the door partly open, he
threw himself on his couch without re-
his clothes. The slight movement
awakened the sleeper, who was beginning
to feel the occasion Of fever. He moved
restlessly.
George, said Falkner, softly.
"Yes."
Where was it we passed that old Mis-
sion church on the road one dark night, and
saw the light burning before the figure of
the Virgin through the Window"
There was a moment of crushing silence.
Does that mean you're wanting to light
the candle again?"
mo"
Then don't lie there inventing sacre-
ligious conundrums, but go to sleep"
Nevertheless, in the morning his fever
was slightly worse. Mrs. Hale, Offering
her coincidence, said, II know that You
have not been resting well, for even after
Tour friend met with that mishap in the
hall, l heard your voices and Kate saws
your door was open all night. You have a
little fever, too, Mr.. Falkner.
George looked curiously at Falkner's